The world's largest turtle is the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), which can grow up to 7 feet (2.13 meters) in length and weigh more than 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms). This impressive animal is also one of the oldest living species of reptiles, having been around for more than 100 million years.
The leatherback sea turtle can be found in oceans all around the world, from the tropics to the Arctic. They are known for their unique shell, which is covered in a leathery skin rather than hard plates like most other turtles. This allows them to dive to incredible depths of up to 4,200 feet (1,280 meters) in search of their favorite food, jellyfish.
Despite their massive size, leatherback sea turtles are also incredibly agile swimmers, able to reach speeds of up to 22 miles per hour (35 kilometers per hour) in short bursts. They are also able to regulate their body temperature to some degree, which allows them to swim in waters that would be too cold for other species of turtles.
Unfortunately, leatherback sea turtles are also one of the most endangered species of sea turtle, with only a few thousand remaining in the wild. This is due to a variety of factors, including the destruction of their nesting beaches, pollution, and accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
Efforts are underway to protect these incredible animals, including the establishment of protected nesting beaches, the use of turtle-excluder devices on fishing nets, and public education campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of conservation. With these efforts, there is hope that the leatherback sea turtle will continue to thrive for generations to come.
